Refugees work on English tutorials in a computer lab at the Bureau of Refugee Services. (Christopher Gannon/The Des Moines Register)

Written by

Jason Clayworth
jclayworth@dmreg.com

The unpaid suspension of a state Refugee Services employee who sent an email alleging misconduct by the bureau's director was upheld in a ruling made public this week.

But the documents in that case and other court records reveal that Refugee Services Bureau Director John Wilken was placed on administrative leave in 2010 after he admitted that he grabbed a female worker's arm during an argument. That action also resulted in a jury finding in January that the state had illegally retaliated against the employee.

The Iowa Department of Human Services oversees the Refugee Services agency, and ...